Skaneateles Fire Department elects new chief, president

On the evening of April 7, the members of the Skaneateles Fire Department convened at the main station on West Genesee Street to conduct annual firematic and corporate elections. Previous chief Eric Sell and previous president Jim Buff both chose to step down, though they will both remain active with the department.

During this meeting, the membership elected the following officers:

Firematic Officers:

Chief of Department: Dan Evans

First Assistant Chief: Fred Squires

Second Assistant Chief: Pete Buehler

Captain Torrent Engine Company: Dan Pickering

Captain Torrent Hook and Ladder Company: Eric Sell

Captain Protection Company no. 1: Bob Frank

Captain Protections Company no. 2: Dave Card

Captain Fire Police: Gene Russell

Lieutenant Torrent Engine Company: Allan Bille

Lieutenant Torrent Hook and Ladder Company: Todd Hall

Lieutenant Protection Company no. 1: Jodi Tate

Lieutenant Protection Company no. 2: Frank Lessaongang

Lieutenant Fire Police: Jorge Batlle

Corporate Officers:

President: Dick Perkins

Vice-President: Marty Lynn

Recording Secretary: Charlie Wallace

Membership Secretary: Bob Frank

Treasurer: Scott Short

Budget Director: David Card

Historian: Jorge Batlle

Custodian: Paul Murphy

Receiver: Joe Loperfido

Thank you to those dedicated individuals that have served in various capacities over the years and congratulations to those newly elected individuals as they begin their term in office.

For the month of March, the dedicated members of the Skaneateles Fire Department responded to 27 emergency alarms, with members spending 336.4 personnel hours on these alarms. In an effort to provide the most accurate information regarding our emergency responses, a more detailed breakdown of monthly SFD responses is located below:

Fire: 12

Rescue: 1

EMS: 8 (SFD responds when SAVES is on another call)

Water rescue: 0

Mutual aid: 6 (SFD responds to another fire district)

Total number of calls for March: 27

Total personnel hours for March: 336.4

Thus far, the members of the SFD have responded to a total of 95 calls for 2014 (23 more calls than the same time last year) with members spending 1,481.4 hours away from home. In addition to responding to those alarms, the members of the SFD spent an additional 397 hours training during the same time frame, totaling 1,481.4 hours of dedicated service to the Skaneateles community. This does not count the additional hours spent on committee meetings, state trainings, paperwork, monthly meetings or general fire department maintenance.